Rhône

Question 1

What are the prestigious appellations in Northern Rhône?

Answer 1

Hermitage
Côte Rôtie
Condrieu

These rival the great names of Bordeaux and Burgundy in terms of quality and longevity of their wines

Question 2

How much of total production does Northern Rhône represent of total Rhône production?

Answer 2

Only 5%

But commands a high reputation and prices to match

Question 3

What is topography of Northern Rhône?

Answer 3

Narrow and steep.

Most vines planted on the western slopes of the Rhône

Question 4

What is the soil in Northern Rhône?

Answer 4

Granitic soils prone to soil erosion

Question 5

What appellation represents over half of wine produced in Northern Rhône?

Answer 5

Crozes-Hermitage

Question 6

What is the climate of Northern Rhône?

Answer 6

Continental climate

Hard winters and hot summers

Dominant feature is the Mistral, a strong, cold north wind that cools the climate but inhibits disease

Rain is usually in early spring and late autumn

Risk of frost in early spring and late ripening

Question 7

How are vines trained in Northern Rhône?

Answer 7

Individually staled to combat the affect of the Mistral and due to gradient of slopes

Question 8

Why is there little mechanisation in Northern Rhône?

Answer 8

Due to slopes, production costs are high

Eroded soils often needs to be put back on the slopes by a pulley system

Question 9

What vinificación technique is used for cheaper wines in Northern Rhône?

Answer 9

Semi carbonic maceration

Question 10

What is the vinification process for most red wines in Northern Rhône?

Answer 10

Mostly traditional, length maceration and barrel aging for up to 3 years

Question 11

What white Northern Rhône wines may see some oak ageing?

Answer 11

Fine Condrieu and white Hermitage

Question 12

How is white wine vinified in Northern Rhône?

Answer 12

Generally cool fermented in stainless steel and bottled within 6 months

Fine Condrieu and white Hermitage May see some oak ageing

Question 13

What is the dominant grape variety in Northern Rhône?

Answer 13

Syrah

Viognier, Roussanne and Marsanne also planted

Question 14

What is profile of Syrah in Northern Rhône?

Answer 14

Deep colour

High tannin and ageing potential

Aromas and flavours of blackberries, blueberries and pepper

Takes on gamey character when aged

Question 15

What is the only red grape allowed for AC wines in Northern Rhône?

Answer 15

Syrah

Question 16

What character does Northern Rhône Syrah develop with age?

Answer 16

Gamey character

Question 17

Why are plantings of Roussanne declining in Northern Rhône?

Answer 17

Poor resistant to disease and Mistral wind

Question 18

What does Roussanne add to a Northern Rhône blend?

Answer 18

Fruit and acidity

Question 19

Which Northern Rhône grape is similar to Roussanne but less aromatic?

Answer 19

Marsanne

Question 20

Which two Northern Rhône white grapes are often blended?

Answer 20

Roussanne and Marsanne

Viognier the other main white grape in Northern Rhône is never blended with other white varietals

Question 21

Which white grape in Northern Rhône is increasing its plantings and why?

Answer 21

Viognier

Low yield, opulent wine with exotic fruit character

Roussanne & Marsanne plantings are decreasing as they have poor resistant to disease and Mistral wind

Question 22

How much Viognier can be added to Côte-Rôtie AC red wine?

Answer 22

Up to 20%

Question 23

What is the only wine that can be made in Côte-Rôtie AC?

Answer 23

Red wine only but 20% of Viognier can be added

Question 24

What is the most northerly vineyard area in Northern Rhône?

Answer 24

Côte-Rôtie AC

Question 25

How are vines trained in Côte-Rôtie AC and why?

Answer 25

Individually staked and trained to a teepee to stabilise against the Mistral wind

Question 26

Why is mechanisation impossible in Côte-Rôtie AC?

Answer 26

Steep narrow terraced make mechanisation impossible

Question 27

What does Côte-Rôtie literally translate as?

Answer 27

Roasted slope

Question 28

What is the profile of Côte-Rôtie AC wines?

Answer 28

Deep coloured reds, full bodied, spicy and complex

Question 29

What is the only grape permitted in Condrieu AC?

Answer 29

Viognier

Question 30

What is the style of Château Grillet AC wines?

Answer 30

A single vineyard in Condrieu producing oak aged Viognier

Question 31

What pushes up prices in Condrieu AC?

Answer 31

Steep vineyards and tiny production

Question 32

What are the best wines made from in Condrieu AC?

Answer 32

Low yielding old vines The AC is Viognier only

Question 33

What is the profile of Condrieu AC wines?

Answer 33

Unique floral perfume Best drunk young

Question 34

Where is Saint-Joseph AC?

Answer 34

West Bank of the Rhône river in Northern Rhône

Question 35

Which Northern Rhône AC does the lightest bodied red wines come from?

Answer 35

Saint-Joseph AC The Syrah there has raspberry and pepper characters and is the lightest bodied Northern Rhône red

Question 36

What grape dominates Saint-Joseph AC?

Answer 36

Syrah Small quantities of Marsanne and Roussanne

Question 37

Where do the best wines come from in Saint-Joseph AC, Northern Rhône?

Answer 37

Terraced vineyards near Tournon produce the best quality Large volume production from flatter sites

Question 38

Where is Crozes-Hermitage AC?

Answer 38

Northern Rhône around the town of Hermitage Over 50% of Northern Rhône production

Question 39

Why is wine from Crozes-Hermitage AC medium priced?

Answer 39

Due to large volume and less prestigious reputation Highest production lighter bodied wines made from high yielding flatter sites. Concentrated, complex wines from steeper slopes

Question 40

What grape is white wine made from in Crozes-Hermitage AC?

Answer 40

Marsanne, fruity with medium body, designed to be drunk young

Question 41

What is the most famous Northern Rhône appellation of all?

Answer 41

Hermitage AC

Question 42

Where is Hermitage AC?

Answer 42

Northern Rhône Located on a steep, south facing hull on the east bank of the Rhône behind the town of Tain-l’Hermitage

Question 43

Why is Hermitage AC so damn expensive?

Answer 43

Very small area 132ha High reputation since Roman times Complex, very long lived wines can age 50 years

Question 44

How much white grapes can be fermented in a Hermitage AC blend?

Answer 44

Legally up to 15% of white grapes can be fermented but in reality unlike Côte-Rôtie white grapes are rarely added to the blend

Question 45

How much of Hermitage AC production is white?

Answer 45

Around 20% The blend is dominated by Marsanne, full bodied and long ageing capacity developing honey and hazelnut flavours with age

Question 46

Which Northern Rhône AC must be 100% Syrah?

Answer 46

Cornas AC Unlike other Northern Rhône appellations where a small percentage of white can be added

Question 47

What is an undervalued Northern Rhône appellation with deep, full bodied wines to rival Hermitage?

Answer 47

Cornas AC

Question 48

Why are the wines of Cornas AC deep and full bodied?

Answer 48

Sun-baked sheltered location gives deep, full bodied wines to rival Hermitage AC

Question 49

What encourages ripening in Northern Rhône?

Answer 49

Heat retaining granite soils and reasonably steep southern exposition

Question 50

What is the topography of Southern Rhône?

Answer 50

The Rhône Valley flattens our as it heads closer to the sea, rolling hills with scrubs (carriage) interspersed with vineyards Covered in large round pudding shines which store heat during the daytime hours and release it to the vineyard at night

Question 51

What helps ripening in Southern Rhône?

Answer 51

Mediterranean climate and plenty of sunshine Also large round pudding stones which store heat during daytime hours and release it to the vineyard at night

Question 52

What is the climate in Southern Rhône?

Answer 52

Mediterranean Mild winters Hot summers Low rainfall Plenty of sunshine Mistral particularly strong as no protection from slopes

Question 53

Why is the Mistral particularly strong in Rhône Valley?

Answer 53

There is no protection from slopes as Rhône Valley flattens out as it heads closer to the sea

Question 54

What is essential to protect vines from the Mistral in Southern Rhône?

Answer 54

Wind breaks

Question 55

Why is low pruning common in Southern Rhône?

Answer 55

To increase ripening from reflected heat of large pudding stones

Question 56

How are vines trained in Southern Rhône?

Answer 56

Syrah is wire trained Other varieties are spur pruned into a bush

Question 57

What is seldom seen in Southern Rhône wines?

Answer 57

Single varietal wines Chateauneuf permits 100% Grenache but most other AC wines in Southern Rhône are found as a blend

Question 58

What are the key Northern Rhône ACs?

Answer 58

Côte-Rôtie AC - Syrah with up to 20% Viognier added Condrieu AC - Viognier only Saint-Joseph AC - lightest bodied reds with Syrah with raspberry and pepper Crozes-Hermitage AC - highest production Hermitage AC - most famous and long lived red and whites 50year + Cornas AC - undervalued 100% Syrah

Question 59

What is the dominant grape variety in Southern Rhône?

Answer 59

Grenache but it mostly appears as a blend

Question 60

What do the Southern Rhône varietals add to a blend?

Answer 60

Grenache - Low tannin and colour, flavours of spiced red berries Syrah - provides colour and tannin Cinsault - low in tannin, provides fruit and acidity Mourvèdre - deep in colour and tannins Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne, Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Bouboulenc - produce fat full bodied wines with low acidity